So a buddy of mine called me out of the blue and said that he was in town and wanted to do Lunch on Saturday. (He has no idea that I am inactive) He left bethel last Sept. and lives about 80 miles away. He's currently serving as an MS. As we are eating our lunch he asks me if I have read the July 15th WT. I said yes, he asks what I think about it. I said I not sure how I feel, but there are a lot of changes that's for sure. I was dying to spread the news of TTATT, but I had to rein myself in. Just like when you are preaching to someone giving them too much info. at once can turn them off, so I invited him to think. I asked him what about you, what do you thing about the 07/15 WT? He said the org. is tightening things up for sure, but that's what we need with the great trib. right around the corner. I said, ok but are these changes more loving and understanding for the friends? Then, I brought out the big guns: Congregation camping trips during the late 80's/early 90's. I said remember how fun those were? The whole cong. would have a good time and you could feel the love, right? He talked for about 5-8 mins. about the good times camping and the cong is different now. I said if the great trib. is right around the corner, should the cong. be even MORE loving than in the 80's. He agreed. To wrap up the convo. I said can I read an uplifiting/encouraging scripture? he said yeah! I grabbed my bible from the car and we read Matthew 11:30
He said this is SO true, things should be getting more loving not tighening the grip on the friends.
We said goodbye and he texted me on Sun. saying thanks for the encouragement.